[One Sip of a Book] Namgung Hoon, Former Kakao CEO's 'The Job of a CEO'

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Namgung Hoon, former CEO of Kakao, who has over 10 years of CEO experience ranging from a new employee at a large corporation to founding a game company and leading Kakao, a legendary Korean startup. Now serving as the 'Full-time Advisor at Kakao Future Initiative Center,' he shares the management know-how accumulated through his career as a CEO, not just as a title but as a profession. He interestingly introduces insights on management by comparing them to games, his main field and an industry where he boasts top-level dedication.

Just as every vehicle has an accelerator and a brake, these two functions have distinct meanings, but the essence of a vehicle is ultimately 'movement,' not 'stopping.' What is it that we should do but are not doing? What will we deeply regret later? I, we, continuously question and challenge this. -pp. 29-30

Sometimes, when there is simply no fuel, people try to fix a car by disassembling the entire engine. The problem must be redefined as simply as possible. The answer is often in a place easier than you think. -p. 67

As a student, you cannot change the problem, but as a member of society, you can change the problem to suit your convenience. In fact, by simplifying the problem, the answer becomes easier, and those solving the problem together can understand it more easily. Looking back, the biggest difference between being a student and a working adult can be defined this way: as a student, the answer is difficult; as a working adult, the problem is difficult. However, if you keep looking for answers with the inertia of being a student, it becomes hard to solve the problem. -p. 99

Just as stopping food intake is as important as exercising to lose weight, you need to consider what you should stop doing among the things you are currently doing. What should you stop? -p. 103

It is necessary to organize your own work. It is best to summarize work simply in easy-to-understand words and about one sentence. (...) While it is important that I work, it is also very important that those around me know what I am doing. After organizing, inform those around you. If you dig the ground alone, you often get buried underground and lose track of where you are going. Therefore, taking time to reflect on what ground you are digging and why is truly important. -pp. 104-105

CEO as a Profession | Namgung Hoon | Wisdom House | 240 pages | 17,000 KRW

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